Ongoing education in the Meetings Industry is success factor for future business

This year will see the 32nd ECM Summer School take place in Thessaloniki, Greece, 25-29 August 2018. The renowned educational programme on the Meetings Industry will provide at least 50 new delegates with the basis and know-how to progress a rewarding career in the sector.

We live in an always evolving world, and the Meetings Industry is no exception. Ongoing education in the Meetings Industry is success factor for future business, whether you belong to an important or second tiered destination. It's a crucial task for top management in each organisation, whether it is a Convention Bureau (CVB), tourist board, congress centre, airline, hotel, DMC, PCO or meeting planner, to train every employee continuously.

Since 1987, the ECM Summer School sets out the background and context of the Meetings Industry with a focus on European and international best practices. The set-up of the event allows maximum interaction between students and the experienced meetings professionals that compose the ECM Summer School faculty. The format of the ECM Summer School also guarantees students to meet with as many counterparts as possible whether for challenging speakers in plenary sessions, group work, networking or socialising. 

"It was an unforgettable experience with very interesting topics about the Meetings Industry! Everything was well organised and structured. The ECM Summer School is one of the best opportunities to meet people with the same aims, challenges and difficulties in the Meetings Industry." said Nadine Roth, Assistant Manager Convention at visitBerlin Berlin Convention Office and student during the 31st ECM Summer School in Dresden.

"Despite tackling up-to-date issues like new technology, hybrid meetings and green meetings, the winning formula has remained the same: a unique opportunity for young professionals just entering the Meetings Industry to spend three days with some of the biggest names in our business." continued Pier Paolo Mariotti, course leader.

The faculty are all members/partners of ECM and give their time on a voluntary basis - a way of giving back to the meetings industry: Lone Alletorp Callard (Wonderful Copenhagen), Elif Balci Fisunoglu (ICCA), Nalan Emre (IMEX Group), Sam Johnston (Dublin Convention Bureau), Cain Leathem (GB Fitness), Heike Mahmoud (Congress Center Hamburg), Nicola McGrane (IAPCO), Christian Mutschlechner (Vienna Convention Bureau), Miguel Neves (Social Media Chefs), Colleen Phalen (Destinations International), Mathias Sondermann (SAP), Anja Stas (FMCCA), Daniel Waigl (CIRSE) and Kerstin Wünsch (tagungswirtschaft) led by the course leader Pier Paolo Mariotti, CMP CMM (EURAC Research).

In 2018, Thessaloniki will host the 32nd ECM Summer School. From the ancient Greek Symposium to the meetings and events of present day, people convene to exchange ideas and goods, and they transform the world as they do so. We invite you to experience together the unique concept of the Greek «agora», an open space for knowledge and education as a meeting ground. Build relationships and share knowledge, learn from the best and exchange experiences. 

The ECM Summer School qualifies for CMP certification and every student getting an ECM Summer School diploma also gets 17.75 Clock Hours for their overall CMP certification.

Download the programme, register now and learn for your future success in the Meetings Industry or come and visit us at IMEX Frankfurt, May 15-17, 2018 on Stand G119.